Can Eating Pulses Help You Lose Weight?

Pulses (non-oil seeds of legumes such as beans, lentils, chickpeas, and dry peas) are known for their high content of protein and fibre.

Now a study by Kim and colleagues from the University of Toronto, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggests that dietary pulse consumption may indeed lead to a modest reduction in body weight.

The researched performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of 21 randomized controlled trials on the effect of pulse consumption on body weight, waist circumference, and body fat.

Pooled analysis that included data from over 900 subjects showed an overall significant weight reduction of about 300 grams in diets containing dietary pulses (median intake of 132 g/d or ∼1 serving/d).

Thus, the authors conclude that inclusion of dietary pulses in a diet may be a beneficial weight-loss strategy because it leads to a modest weight-loss effect even when diets are not intended to be calorically restricted.

Exactly how and why pulses have this effect is unclear although it may well be related to their protein or fibre content.

I would not be surprised if someone is already studying the effect of pulse consumption on the gut bacteriome.

@DrSharma
Edmonton, AB